A Southern California man, Deron Wells, died after his fight for a double-lung transplant went viral. Wells, a 59-year-old father of three, was battling stage 4 lung cancer and faced a challenging insurance battle to secure the life-saving procedure. Initially, Cigna, his insurance company, approved procedures to airlift him to Illinois, but denied coverage for the transplant itself, as it was not a standard treatment for lung cancer and involved a clinical trial. However, after a public outcry and an independent review, Cigna reversed its decision, allowing Wells to proceed with the transplant at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
Wells’ story captured the hearts of many, as his family and friends shared his struggle to raise awareness about the difficulties patients face in securing necessary medical treatments. “In his death, as unfortunate as it is, there is hope that things can change and that the next patient will get that care in time,” said Scott Kern, a friend of Wells, according to ABC7.
Despite the approval for the transplant, Wells’ health deteriorated, and he passed away before the procedure could be performed. His story has sparked discussions on the need for insurance reforms to ensure patients receive timely and necessary care. Wells leaves behind his wife and three children. He will be laid to rest on Saturday.
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